Before this fellow passenger on a recent flight started reading his book on Shoeless Joe Jackson, he pulled out a cigar and stuck it in his mouth. It stayed there (unlit) the entire time he was reading. It was quite clear the cigar was his crutch – an aid to more productive reading (and probably productivity in lots of his other activities too).

What are your crutches? Importantly, think about ones that work well for you. But also consider crutches that aren’t really providing much help anymore. It’s always good to know what’s working and what isn’t when you need assistance easing into creative periods. – Mike Brown